Summary:
A welcome return.
Category: Angst, Humor, Series. Romance
possible in later chapters.
Episode Related: None.
Season: None
in partcular.
Pairing: Jack/Sam, of course.
Rating: 13+
Warnings: A 'lil bit of cursing. Sorry about that.
Disclaimer:
Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom,
MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have
written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money
whatsoever has exchanged hands. The original characters, situations,
and story are the property of the author(s). This is why I am but
ten minutes from the poorhouse. No copyright infringement is
intended. I'm only playing with the characters for a little bit.
Honest. You can have them back in a minute.
The
Battlefield Series Part Three
The Return Home From A
Battlefield
The wormhole bursts into life in the
gateroom. General George
Hammond ('Of Texas', he mentally adds,
as he can internally
appreciate Master Bra'tac's extension of his
appellation, even if he
won't admit it out loud due to the
ridiculous amount of jocular head
rubbing and that would
undoubtedly follow) looks nervously out of the
control room
towards the gate. Yes, he has been apprised of the
Major's
condition. Yes, he knows she is safe. But being verbally
informed
doesn't matter when any of his people are missing. However,
this
isn't just anybody. He will only, as always, allow himself to
feel
a small wave of relief when they come through the gate and he
can
see that she is alive.
Major Samantha Carter. An extraordinary
person in so many ways. He
was honest enough to admit to himself
that she was one of the truly
special ones. The kind of
outstanding officer he had been fortunate
enough to have serve
with or for him on less than a handful of
occasions during his
long military career. And as time went on, an
officer whose place
on the premier SGC combat team had been quite
rightfully
questioned by those working in thinner atmosphere. He has
always
been determined to defend her position to the hilt. There is
no
question that she is a skilled and supremely talented soldier. As
time goes on, though, he is finding it harder to argue against
the
requests from above to stop risking that unique intellect and
knowledge. She is vitally important to the interests of Earth.
But
none of this is important now. Major Samantha Carter is not
an
intangible name on a sheet of paper to him, a sheet of paper
just
showing what she can do with the laws of physics. She is a
young
woman of great intelligence and experience in this peculiar
field,
yes, but she is also a young woman of warm charisma, with
a kindness
that cannot help but draw people to her. As the CO of
this base, he
hopes for the safe return of the intangible of
these Major Samantha
Carters, but this will is overridden by the
emotional drive of George
Hammond to see the captivating smile of
Sam, the brilliant young lady
he has come to see almost as one of
his own daughters. He gazes at
the gate. "Come on people,
bring her home."
-------------------------------
She
is here. She is safe. He takes just a fraction of a moment to
enjoy
his relief at the situation before seeing that something is
just
a little out of whack with the returning group.
It is rare
that the return of an injured officer involves any
reaction other
than a grim satisfaction at the completion of a
successful
journey home on the part any of his personnel. Extreme
levity is
something he would never expect. But General Hammond is
pretty
sure that that is the case out there, in front of him, in the
gateroom, right now. Colonel Dixon, one of his finest officers,
looks about fit to burst into hysterical laughter on the ramp.
Lieutenant Corrin and Nurse Barton are hardly any better. Teal'c
is...well, Teal'c, but given his experience with the stoic Jaffa,
the
General cannot help but think that there is a huge amount of
amusement writ large in the menacing warrior's left eyebrow.
Doctor
Frazier, on the other hand, is all business, though again
he can't
fail to notice that her customary sharp orders are being
handed out
with a slight grin.
She looks at the medical
team that has been assembled for her in the
gateroom. "It's
a simple fracture. She needs no more than a cast, a
couple of
stiches on her forehead and some anti-inflammatories with
support
for her hand and wrist. Up on to the gurney.
One...two...three...up." The move is accomplished with the
innate
professionalism that General Hammond finds both amazing
(by ordinary
standards) and yet commonplace (by the massively
high standards he
had come to expect from his diminutive CMO).
The patient does not
even wake. If he is not mistaken, she may
even be snoring.
Incredible.
The stargate brings home the
last of his men. Colonel Jack O'Neill
('Two 'l's', Hammond
couldn't help but mentally add), steps into the
SGC, glances
towards his 2IC, making sure she is receiving adequate
medical
care and sends a jaunty wave in his direction. Good God, is
he
nearly smiling too? And an odd near smile, to boot. It is all
too
strange.
"All returnees to the infirmary." Not that
he is terribly concerned
about their health, you understand
(though naturally he is), but he
really wants to find out what is
so damned funny.
-------------------------------
As he
joins the miniature convoy moving up towards the infirmary, it
really doesn't take the General long to get his answer. And he is
glad that for once he doesn't have to take his stars and hit
people
over the head with them to get it.
In the elevator,
the still madly amused looking Dixon is the first to
speak. "So,
our dear l'il tyrant, she's gonna be ok?"
Doctor Frazier
glares melodramatically across the gurney. "Yes,
Colonel
Dixon. She will be fine. And if I may remind you, I have
the
power of the needle over you as well." She glances over towards
Jack, who, at this moment, is leaning nonchalantly in the corner.
She doesn't quite manage to keep the smile out of her
voice.
"Although I can't see you for at least an hour."
Major Carter is still sleeping.
Dixon looks suitably chastised.
O'Neill seems relatively unbothered
by the good Doctor's
statement, but as it was directed at him,
Hammond can only guess
that some names, possibly regarding various
world leaders
seriously lacking in democratic policy, were exchanged
off
planet. Now that is funny. 'So long as it doesn't affect base
operations', his generally General-like side intones in his mind,
before he tells it to be quiet. Now all he needs to know is the
name
of the tyrant. One of the benefits of being base commander
is that
information is only available on a need to know basis. As
base
commander, he needs to know everything. This is an absolute
rule and
he knows it, because he just created it. Isn't command
great?
The elevator comes to a standstill and the doors open.
As her patient
is comfortable, Doctor Frazier allows the others
to leave it before
she and Nurse Barton push the gurney out. The
General moves with
them. As they pass Colonel Dixon, he cannot
resist he urge to speak.
"You know what I'm getting you
for Christmas, Doc? A hat." His warm
smile almost splits his
face as he moves his hand in an odd
triangular motion over the
top of his head.
Doctor Janet Frazier does not grace him with
an answer, but all is
suddenly clear to George Hammond.
He cannot help but sympathise. "Napoleon, Doctor?"
She sends him a smile back. "Yes, General."
Hammond
grins. "Oh, I've had that too, in my time. I think you'd
look
adorable in a tricorn, Doctor Frazier."
She puts on an
extraodinarily vapid look and utilises a surprisingly
good
southern accent. "Why, thank you, General." Suddenly, the
look
and the accent are gone as she glances back at Colonel
Dixon. "One
hour, Colonel." Oh, now that is a hard
voice!
Dixon has the nous to look a tad worried. Colonel
O'Neill, however,
barely notices when she turns to him. "With
us, Sir." It is only
when he needs a second call that the
General realises that he hasn't
been that nonchalant at all. His
attention has been fixed
elsewhere. To be precise, on the
gurney.